Cyclists visit Jenkins County enroute to Santa Monica
By Jim Hite

A group of cyclists participating in the American Challenge ride across the United States passed through Jenkins County June 24, spending the night at the home of Jim and Joyce Hodges-Hite before continuing their journey. (Photo by Jim Hite)

Twelve high school age youngsters and two adult leaders from several states rode their bicycles into Millen two days after leaving Tybee Island on their way to Santa Monica, Ca.

Arriving just after noon Sunday, June 24, the riders stocked up at BI-LO and enjoyed the store's air conditioning before riding to the home of Joyce Hodges-Hite and Jim Hite, pitching their tents alongside the pond, and taking welcome showers.

This group of riders was one of three that left Tybee for Santa Monica, each group taking a different route.

This American Challenge ride is one of many summer programs offered by Williamstown, Mass., based Overland Summers.

This is the second year that cyclists from Overland stayed at the Hite residence. And as last year, members of the Millen Baptist Church choir brought many covered dishes to provide a good, home-cooked supper for the young people.

After they spent the remainder of the evening in conversation around the dinner table and main room, enjoying the air conditioning, lights out came by 10:30 p.m.

Rising well before dawn at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, they packed their gear and prepared their bikes for the 80-mile ride to Hamburg State Park in Mitchell.

When you read this, according to their itinerary, they will have gone through Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri, spending the rest of this week in Kansas before heading into Colorado and reaching the Grand Canyon on July 25.

After a rest day there, the group will ride 200 miles in two days to reach Needles, Ca., and after another four days and 310 miles of riding, they are due to arrive in Santa Monica on Aug. 2.

Total mileage: 3024. Total days of riding: 37. Average miles per day: 82.